Transmitting instrument.



G. E. WINSLOW.

TRANSMITTING INSTRUMENT. nPLIouIoH FILED Juni a1, 1903.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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G. E. WINSLOW. TBANSMITTING INSTRUMENT. nrmomlon Hman JULY a1, 190s.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

GEORGE E. WINSLOW, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRANSMITTING INSTRUIZIENT.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. WINSLOW, a citizen of the United States, residing in Waltham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Transmitting Instruments, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specica tion, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a transmitting instrument'adaptedl 'for use in transmitting impulses of electric current to an indicating device located at a distance, the transmitter being mechanically operated in response to changes in condition which are to be recorded,for example, changes in water level, pressure, or the like, which are susce tible of mechanically operating devices ocated in the proper place.

The purpose of the invention is to arrange the transmitting device so that a definite number of impulses of current corresponding exactly to the degree of change in either way, that is to say, the raising or lowering of water level, or the increase or decrease of pressure, or any change of condition which is susceptible of causing an actual movement of a moving part will be transmitted by electricity wit iout any possibility of false impulses which might throw the apparatus out of synchronism` and produce a false record at the recording instrument. To these ends, the apparatus is provided with a primary actuating device which is connected with some movable member operating in response to the changes of condition to be recorded, this member consisting of a toothed wh eel which engages a pivoted lever so arranged that said lever will be rocked on its pivot one way or the other by a movement of the wheel in either direction, thereby closing an electric circuit through an electro magnet. The same rocking movement which closes the circuit causes the lever to engage selectively one or the other of a pair of circuit controllers, and the armature of the electro-magnet through which the circuit has been closed is arranged to move the lever endwise, to that whichever circuit controller is engaged thereby will be operated, the impulse of current controlled by one circuit controller being arranged to move the recording instrument in one direction, while impulses of current controlled by the other circuit controller are Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 31,

l arranged to move the recording instrument in the o posite direction.

The e cetro-magnet is provided with two armatures, each of which constitutes a lock for the other, as will be hereinafter described, so that when the circuit is closed, one armature moves first, and thereby releases the other armature which then actuates the lever. The armature which moves first is provided with a locking device to engage the toothed wheel and hold the same in such a position that u on the return of the lever when the circuit as been broken, it will engage the following tooth without fail, so thatJ tlc number of impulses will correspond exactly to the distance traveled bythe said wh eel. The armature which moves, after being released, as above described, and in its movement actuates the lever, in turn, locks the other armature, so as to insure the proper positioning of the lever in its return movement.

A further feature of the said invention consists in inter osing a spring between said Wheel and tie member which is positively located by the changes in condition, so that after the change has taken place, the toothed wheel may be acted upon by the spring and caused to travel uniformly until it again engages the primary actuator member and comes to rest.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an instrument embodying t e invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section, on line 9:2 of Fig. l F ig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line x3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the instrument; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the parts in a different position; and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing theparts in a dillerent position.

The instrument embodying the invention is provided with two circuit controllers a and b intended to control separate circuits leading toa recording instrument of any suitable nature located at a remote point, the closure of the circuit through the circuit controller orJ being adapted to cause an impulse which will move the recording instrument in one direction, while the closing of the circuit through the circuit controller l) will cause an impulse to move the recording instrument in the opposite direction. Assuming, therefore, that these circuit controllers are arranged to be closed a certain definite water level, a change in pressure, or a change number' of times in response to a change inA in any other condition which can be originally caused to produce the displacement of a movable member, the action of the recording instrument will correspond and produce a true record of the variations in condition.

ln order that the record may be absolutely accurate, the instrument embodying the invention is provided with interlocking mechanism which insures a definite number of closures of either circuit in response to a certain deiinite distance through which the main actuating member' is moved by mechanical means. Assuming, for example, that the instrument is to be used to record changes in water level, the main actuating medium may consist of a float A, (Fie. 2) suitab y connected as by a cord or be t AZ with a pulley A mounted on a countershalt A4. This countershaft A4 is shown as provided with a gear A5 arranged to mesh with a gear r on a shat't c2 which also carries a gear or toothed wheel c3 which constitutes what ma".Y be termed the primar)` actuating device ot' the transmitting instrument. ln order to avoid any danger of breakage in case ol an abnormal movement of the countershaft At, or its equivalent, the gear c is loosely mounted on the shaft c2, but frictionally held thereon by means of a spring el, Fig. 3, the stress ol which is sul'iicient to connect the gear and shaft frictionally, so that the); will turn together under normal conditions.

The purpose of utilizing the intermediate gear A5 and the gear c is merely to provide means for readily varying the proportionate movement between the primary actuator of the transmitter and the part which is positively moved in response to variations in condition, so that the instrument can be easily adapted for recording changes in condition which may be large or small. For example, if variations in pressure are to be recorded, the pulley A3, or its equivalent, will be connected with a diaphragm, or its equivalent, the movement of which will be relativehv small, thereby necessitating a large multiplication ot the movement of the primary actuating device, in order to obtain the necessary record. On the other hand, if changes in water level were to be indicated, a direct connection might be equally Well used, or, possibly, the movement of the primary actuating member geared down, instead of up. The primary actuating member c, consists, as previously stated, of a toothed wheel loosely mounted on the shaft and connected by a pin 02" with a s ring c, and a springl c at opposite sides, an wound in opposite directions, the said springs being connected at their o posite ends with disks c and c7 which are a so free to rotate on the shaft ci'. The said shaft c2 has xed thereon two disks C13 and c provided with stops C10 and c12 cooperating with stops o8 and e9 mounted on the disks c and c7. Any movement, therefore, of the shaft A* will be transmitted, through one pair of stops or the other, to one or the other of the disks c or el, and then through the spring'to the wheel c3; and if the movement is suniciently sudden or rapid to cause the stops to be separated and the spring put under tension, the toothed wheel c3 will lollow the stop under the inlluence of the spring until the stops again come together.

the pin c3", to which the springs c4 and c5 are connected, projects through the wheel c3 and forms a taterai abutment at each side, and each one of the loose disks has a portion (cm, 07") lying against this abutment against which it is drawn by the normal tension of the spring. It is through this engagement of the portions cm or c7 with the pin c30 that the spring, when under abnormal tension, carries the whce. c until it is stopped by the stop on the fixed disk. Under normal conditions, however, that is, when there is a uniform, slow movement in either direction, the shalt c2 and. wheel c3 will move together. It is immaterial, therefore, how rapid the change of condition may be, it being obvious that the toothed wheel C3 will travel uniformly, actuating the fircuit controller through the action olthe successive teeth. For the purpose of actuating the circuit controller, the instrument is provided with a lever d, which is pivotally connected at e2 with a swinging lever e pivotcd at c, so that the said lever d' is capabfe of an oscillating movement on the pivot c2, as well as a longitudinal movement which takes piace when the lever e swings on its pivot. W'ith the parts at rest, the lever d stands in the neutral position indicated in Figs. i and 4, with its end resting between adjacent teeth of the wheel c3. A movement of the wheel c3 in either direction. therefore, will rock the lever d in one direction or the other, the said lever d being provided with a circuit closing spring, or member, d2, having Contact members d3 and di* at opposite ends arranged to make contact. with one or the other ol' stationary contact memhersforfz, in accordance with the direction of rotation ol the wheel. These contact members f and f2, together with the contact spring d2, control a circuit through an electro-magnet g which is provided with two interlocking armatures z, and i., the armature i beine; arranged to constitute, when in normal position, a lock lor the armature 71., so that when the eectro-magnct g is energized, the armature t must operato prior to the operation oi' the armature 7l. The armature i, is located at the end of a lever i? pivoted at i3 and provided at the opposite end with a lockingr projection i" which is arranged to engage the teeth of the wheel c3 upon the movement of the armature t in response to the closure of the circuit. The function of the armature fi, therefore, is to lock the Wheel c3 during the transmission of an impulse oi current to the recording instrument, and this armature will be hereinafter referred to as the locking armature.

The lever d is so arranged that a iiiovoinent oi' the wheel c3 substantially equivalent to the width of a tooth is necessary in order to rock the lever in either direction a suii'icient distance to make contact and eiose the circuit through the magnet g. Upon such closure, the locking armature i is attracted, thus bringing the locking member it into engagement with the wheel c3, and holding the said wheel in the position to which it has been moved in order to estabdsh the circuit through the magnet g. The locking meniber consists ot' a V-shaped projection which is so located as to engage the wheel c3 between two teeth, and in its engagenicnth slightly moves the wheel so as to cause a slight further lateral movement oi' the lever d to maintain the contact. The movement is such, moreover, as to cause a s ight rub oi the contact (Z3 along the contact f, so that the engaging surfaces are kept clean and free from oxid. 'lhe attraction oi' the armature i., unlocks the armature h, by moving the retaining shoulder t5 out of the path ol` a loclc ing projection h2 on a lever h3 with which the armature h is connected. This lever h3 is provided at its upper end with an engaging portion li* which is arranged to come into contact with an enlargement d5 at the end ot' the lever d, so as to move the said leveil longitudinally, as indicated in Fig. 5. The function oi the armature h is to nieve the lever h3 which directly operates the circuit controller for the recording instrument circuit, and this armature may, therefore, be termed the impelling armature. The nievement oi' the wheel cs which has tipped the lever d and established the circuit througli the electro-magnet g has also brought the engaging Y ortion di at the end of said lever into the pat ci' one or the other of two rochers k and m which are arranged to cause the closure of the external circuits leading to the recording device.

As shown in Fig. 5, it may be assumed that the wheel c has movrd in the direction of the arrow, so as to rock the lever d and establish a circuit through the Contact d3 and the contact f, thereby energizing the electro-magnet brought the engaging portion d5 into the path of a shoulder fm2 on the rocker m, so

that the said rocker is moved on its pivotal The rocker m is provided with support m3. a pin or engaging member mf which is adapted to come into contact with a similar engaging member m5 on a secondary rocker m which has a tail or projection 'm7 normally lying in contact with an insulating block t2 at the end of a spring contact b5, so as to keep This same movement of the lever d has K stationary contact member b* and hold the circuit leading to the recording device open. The member m is further provided with a projection m8 which constitutes a weight i sufficient to overcome the stress of the spring b3 when the parts are in the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

When the parts are in their normal position, the arm ms, together with a corresponding arm m on the member m, lie in contact with a stop m1, and there is a slight lost motion between the engaging portions mi* and m5, so that a certain amount of impact will be produced, thus causing the projection m7 to be thrown Jfar enough to admit of the closure of the circuit through the agency of the spring contacts b3 and b4. The weighted arm m on the member m6 is arranged to engage an inclined or Wedge-shaped surface on the stop m1, so as to prevent it from rebounding and allowing a secondary closure ot the circuit after the parts have been restored to their normal position.

rhe movement oi' the parts in response to the energizing of the electro magnet g, brings the said parts primarily into the position shown in Fig. 5, with the rocker m engaged by the end of the lever d which, in turn, is in engagement with the lever h3. The momentum oi' the parts, however, will cause the end of the lever d to be acted upon by a projection m12 which engages the under side of the rear end of the said lever d, throwing the same upward until a tongue d formed upon said lever comes into alinement with a guide slot h5 formed in the upper end of the lever h3, thereby allowing the lever d, as shown in Fig. 6, to move back under the stress of a spring e4 connected with the rocking lever e, and bearing against the upper end of the lever h3. The tongue d6 and guide h5 cooperate in positioning the lever d in the return movement thereof, so that the end of said lever will unfailingly engage the ro er tooth on the wheel c3, and the said w ee is arranged to be held stationary during the return movement of the lever d by means of the locking device t* which has been previously described. In order that the said locking device may operate as above described to prevent any possible displacenient of the wheel prior to its engagement l by the lever d, the said locking device is arranged to be held in position or locked by i the lever h3 until the latter has returned to its normal position. To this end, the locking projection h2 which primarily acts toprevent the armature i, from moving until attei the j armature l has completed its movement, is so l ositioned as to ride over and engage the l ever i2 when both armatures are in their l attracted position, (Fig. 6) so that the lever h3 must return toits normal position before i the Wheel c3 is released.

l the said contact out of engagement with a lt is to be noted that the rocking of tho lever d, by the tongue m12, does not in itself break the primary circuit through the magnet g, since both ends of the spring d2 will be brought into contact with the points f and f2, and the circuit will not be iinally broken until the lever d has made its lengthwise return movement and has nearly reached the wheel. The guide-slot h5, therefore, does not move until it has performed its function in directing the lever d to the right point on the Wheel. Furthermore, the interlocking of the two armatures above described prevents the locking member i4 from disengaging the wheel e3 before the other members have acted.

The sequence of operations cach time the primariv actuating device is moved is as follows: Contact is made with one or the other of the terminals f or f2, and the electro-magnet g is energized. Armature 'i makes its full movement, locking' the Wheel c3, before armature i: can move. Armature it then moves, lockingr armature t, and producing a closure of the transmitting circuit. Lever d is thrown into position to be restored under the guidance of lever h3, and in being restored breaks the circuit through the electro-magnet. Both armatures are thus released, but the locking device cannot leave the wheel until all other movementsare completed.

In order to prevent the lover d from. being thrown by the projection m beyond the position in which the tongue d is in alineinent with the guide-slot b5, each of the rockers and m` is provided with a guide surface is and mit against one of which surfaces the enlargement di will bring` up. rl`his is best indicated in Fig. 5, in which the member ne" of the rocher 7n, is indicated. as engaging thc under side of said enlargement d'5. As the movement indicated in said Fig. .5 is completed, the enlargement di will stop in contact with the guide surface kf of the roel-:er Il', and thereinY will be so positioned that the tongue d will pass through the guide groove if. lf the rocker ,7c is in operation, the guide surfacf` mi performs the same function.

("laims.

l. ln a transmitter, a movable actuating device; a circuit controller actuated thereby: an electroanagnet in circuit with said Controller; a locking armature and an impeiling armature both in the field of said electro-magnet; a locking device for said actuating' device connected. With said locking armature; a circuit to control a recording instrument; a circuit controller for said circuit: an actuating device for said circuit controller operated by the impelling armature; and means whereby said impelling armature acts as a lock for the locking armature.

2. [n a transmitting device, the combination with tvfo circuit controllers; of an actuator for each controller; a pivotally supported lever located adjacent to said actuators; means for rocking said lever into the path of one or the other of said actuators; an electro-magnet; a circuit controller for said electro-magnet operated by the rocking' movement of said lever; and an impelling device for said lever operated in response to the energizing of said electromagnet.

In a transmitting device the combination with a circuit controller; of a pivotally supported Weighted member adapted to hold said circuit controller in position to open the circuit; a supplemental weighted member provided with an engaging portion to engage the first Weighted member, there normally being lost motion between said Weighted members; and an impelling device adapted to actu-ate said second Weighted member, substantially as and for the purpose described.

hl. In a transmitting device, the combina.- tion with a rotary actuating member; of a toothed wheel loosely mounted thereon; stop members loosely mounted on said rotary actuating member at opposite sides of said wheel; stops connected with the rotary actuating member at opposite sides of said toothed wheel and adapted to engage the stops on said stop-members in opposite directions; oppositely wound springs connecting said stop members with said toothed wheel; and circuit controllers operated by the rotation of said toothed wheel in either direction.

5. In a transmitting instrument, the combination with a rotary member adapted to be moved in either direction by mechanical means; of an electro-magnet; a circuit closer to complete the circuit through said electroniagnet, and operated by the movement of said wheel in either direction; means for locking said wheel stationary in response to the energization of said electro-magnet a oireuit controller to control a circuit leading to a distant oint and an impelling device also operated liy the energization of said electromagnet for operating said circuit controller, substantially as described.

6. ln a transmitting instrument, the com.- bination With a rotary Wheel provided With peripheral teeth or engaging portions of a pivotally superted lever normally in engagement Wit i said wheel; an electro-magnet a circuit controller for said electro-magnet connected with said pivotally supported lever and arranged to close the circuit when said lever is rocked on its pivot b a rotary movement of said Wheel; an impe ling lever having an armature in the lield of said electro-magnet adapted to engage said lever first named and move the same longitudinally,

said impelling lever being provided with a guide; means for rocking said pivotally suported lever upon its pivot after the longituinal movement thereof has been completed; a restoring spring to move said pivotal y supported lever in the opposite direction in which movement it is guided by the guide aforesaid; a locking device for the rotary wheel; an armature for said locking device whereby it is o erated when the electro-inagnet is encrgizet and interlocking devices between said impelling lever and said locking device, whereby the locking device is operated prior to the operation of the impelling lever and released after the operation of the impelling lever has been completed.

7. The combination with a pivotally supported lever and means for rocking the saine on its pivot; of an electro-magnet; means for closing a circuit through said electro-magnet in response to the rocking movement oi said lever; an impelling device o erated in response to the energization oi said electromagnet, said impelling device being adapted to produce a longitudinal movement of said lever; two actuators for circuit controllers each having a portion adapted to be engaged by said lever and a portion to engage said lever in the resulting movement and a guide portion to position the lever; and a guide forming part of the inipelling device with relation to which guide the lever is positioned i in its return movement by means of said actuators.

8. In a transmitting instrument, a circuitcontroller; a traveling actuating member adapted to reduce operations of said circuit controller tlie number of which depends on the distance traveled; a primary actuating member; and a spring connection between said actuatinfr member and said primary actuator, Wherecby said parts may be moved an equal distance at different speeds.

9. In a transmittin instrument a ciricuit controller; a Wheel a apted to actuate said circuit controller; a shaft on which said wheel is loosely mounted; a disk also loosel mounted on the shaft adjacent to said whee a spring connected at one end to said wheel uit at the other end to said disk; engaging portions on said disk and Wheel respectively which are normally held together by said spring; a stop on the disk; and a cooperating stop vhXed with relation to the shaft, whereby the loose disk is positively operated by the shaft and the movement of said loose disk transmitted throu h the spring to the wheel.

In testimony w ereoi, l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE E. VVINSLOW.

Vvlitnesses:

JAMES J. MALONEY, W. E. COVENEY. 

